Easy Skillet Lemon and Garlic Chicken

Lemon and garlic chicken tossed with tomatoes, orecchiette, and fresh mozzarella. It starts out on the stovetop and then bakes in the oven for 15 minutes for a delicious, healthy and quick meal. 

Do you have a really good chicken recipe that you just always go back to because it’s easy, quick, and well…like the perfect weeknight meal? Me? I have LOTS!! And this skillet lemon and garlic chicken is DEFINITELY one of those!!

What’s even better 👉 (secret: the leftovers are the best leftovers ever!) I can’t say that for all leftover chicken recipes. This one though, this is a recipe I would stick in the front of my recipe box if I still used those dusty things up in my cupboard regularly.

So, now that we are on the topic of recipe books, what is your favorite way to organize your recipes? Do you have a system online? To be honest, I still use my recipe books for a few meals that I have had since I put them together when I was about 15. Those ones handed down from my mom that I just love more than anything. Yes, those recipes are still in my recipe book and they aren’t going anywhere. However, these days I don’t use a recipe book much because every week is a brand new week and that means new food!! I need new food, new colors, and new flavors! Call me crazy, but it’s my inner child/dietitian at work here. 

Honestly, the recipes that seem to repeat themselves are those that my husband and kids request otherwise I’m all over here writing down new recipe inspiration before they can chime in and tell me what to cook. Hahaha! For example, if we go too many days without beef aka steak mainly, my husband politely reminds me that we haven’t had it in a while and so I make sure it pops back in to make an appearance. I have nothing against steak, it’s just…well okay so ya I do. I would rather eat anything else but let’s not tell him that. One exception to that is fillets, they are awesome period. This Filet Oscar is still one of the most popular recipes on my site. Warning…the pictures aren’t stellar.

What are your hands-down favorite recipes? I want to know! For me, if it has avocado in it then I’m down. I love salmon, a good chicken recipe like this one for instance, and grilled veggie skewers (those onions and peppers are rockin!)

This recipe has a spring feel to it and I am totally ready for some temps above 30℉! So in that respect, I couldn’t think of a better recipe to add to your day.

Easy Skillet Lemon and Garlic Chicken

Megan

Lemon and garlic chicken tossed with tomatoes, orecchiette, and fresh mozzarella. It starts out on the stovetop and then bakes in the oven for 15 minutes for a delicious, healthy and quick meal.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Chicken, Dinner, Main Dish

Servings 4

Ingredients

  

• 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts skinless and boneless
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt/Pepper to taste
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 6-8 cloves garlic crushed or minced
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 1 lemon sliced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 1/2 cups orecchiette uncooked
• 1 cup spinach chopped and stems trimmed
• 3 oz mozzarella pearls or thinly sliced
• dried parsley for garnish

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 400℉.
• In a large cast iron skillet, add olive oil and heat over medium. Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Add to skillet and cook 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate.
• Meanwhile bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook orecchiette according to manufacturer's instructions. Drain pasta and set aside.
• Leaving skillet on burner, decrease heat to medium-low and wait just a minute. Then add butter and once melted add crushed garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Toss in the tomatoes and cook for about 6 minutes stirring frequently. Add chicken stock, chopped spinach, lemon juice, and lemon slices and increase heat a bit. Cook another couple of minutes.
• Add the chicken breasts back to the skillet. I like to place a few of the lemon slices on top of the chicken at this point. Fill in the skillet with the cooked orecchiette. Add mozzarella pearls or slices evenly over the chicken and pasta.
• Bake for 15-18 minutes until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.
• Sprinkle some dried parsley on top for garnish and more salt/pepper if needed.

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